Only Money. J
"Don't start with me, Candy! Not today! I'm already late for work!" Jeremy shouted at his wife.
Candy Bolt was angry because she had picked up the monthly bill from Ben's Store yesterday and found that her husband had made a two hundred dollar purchase that he had not told her about.
They did not discuss it last night because Jeremy got home late from his second job. They ate supper and went to bed. Candy was determined to find out what was going on before Jeremy left for work today.
"What did you buy, Jeremy? Just tell me, please It's not a secret is it?" She fumed.
"No, it isn't a secret. I swear, Candy! Sometimes I don't think you could get a greased needle up your backside! Why do you have to be so nit picky about everything?" Jeremy was angry.
"A greased needle up my…! I'll show you someone with a greased needle up their butt!" She shouted.
Candy stormed to her sewing room and got one of her knitting needles. She took it with her to the kitchen. Opening the jar of bacon drippings that she saved for seasoning, she dipped her finger in the grease. Then she slathered the grease all over the knitting needle.
"Oh. Jeremy….! I have something for you!" Candy called as she walked toward the washroom. She hid the knitting needle behind her.
"What is it? Did I breathe too many breaths yesterday and not tell you?" He groused as he came out of the washroom.
"Probably, knowing you. But that's not it! This is what I've got for you!" Candy whipped the greased knitting needle out from behind her.
"Candy! What the hell are you doing?!" He shouted as she began trying to poke his derrière with her instrument.
"Let's just find out who can't get a greased needle up his arse!" Candy yelled.
Jeremy tried to get away from her, but she grabbed his arm holding him in place as she poked him over and over with the sharp knitting needle.
"Ouch! Candy, stop it! What is wrong with you?" Jeremy screamed.
"Me?! I'm not the one spending huge sums of money on mysterious items and staying out until all hours!" Candy screamed back.
"I'm not staying out until all hours. You know that. I'm building those new cabinets for Kelly Sanders. It's a long ride to and from her farm. Sometimes I stay a few minutes late to talk to Susie" Jeremy replied in a calm voice.
"How can I be sure that's all you do?" Candy huffed.
Jeremy sighed. "Susie is twelve years old. You don't think I'm interested in a twelve-year-old little girl, do you?"
Candy glared at him. "Kelly Sanders isn't twelve years old."
Her words slapped Jeremy in the face. "Sweetheart, you don't really think I would cheat on you, do you? Surely, you can't think that. I would never cheat, Candy, I love you. I'm sorry I have been in such a bad humor this morning. Working two jobs is hard. That's no excuse, I realize. I shouldn't have said that about the needle. It was crude and not something for a man to say to his beautiful wife. Please forgive me for the fight, Candy. I love you." Jeremy smiled.
"I will have to think about it." Candy huffed.
Jeremy was hurt. This was the first time Candy had ever said that when he apologized. Usually, she forgave him immediately.
"Okay. I gotta go. I have a log jam to bust before two of the crews can get started. What time is supper tonight?" He asked.
"Supper is at seven this evening if you don't blow yourself up." She snapped.
"I'll try not to do that." Jeremy swallowed the lump in his throat.
"We will see, wont we?" Candy asked flippantly.
Jeremy hurried out the door without another word. When he got to the stable, he hugged Brownie and cried.
His tears subsided in a few minutes. Jeremy looked carefully around the yard as he led Brownie out of the stable. He didn't want another run in with Candy before going to work.
About a half hour later, Candy felt ashamed that she didn't accept Jeremy's apology. She felt horrible that she didn't say I love you when he said it to her. They had never in their short-married life parted without both of them saying the three little words.
Candy got ready quickly to go to the logging camp. She couldn't let this wait until her precious husband got home tonight.
As Candy rode along in her buggy, she began feeling happy thinking about the fun she and Jeremy would have tonight after making up today. Suddenly, she heard a loud blast. Jeremy has busted the log jam she thought.
Getting closer to the logging camp, Candy heard a lot of frantic shouting. Her blood ran cold as she slapped her horse with the reins to make her go faster.
"Jeremy! Jeremy! Get Jason! Hurry! Hurry! Jeremy is under the water! Move your ass!" Several men were shouting.
When Mrs. Bolt reached the office tent, she jumped out of her buggy and ran to the river. She saw Jason and Joshua in the water diving down and coming back up. They repeated the process many times in their search for their younger brother. Other loggers were in the water looking for Jeremy too.
Candy ran to the edge of the river. Jason and Joshua came up a third time without Jeremy. Candy quickly undressed to her pantaloons and dove into the dirty water. She swam fast to the two older brothers. They were shocked to see her. However, they did not try to dissuade her. The three of them dove down two more times before they found Jeremy.
The youngest brother was stuck in the middle of a large pile of the blast debris that had remained under the water.
Jason and Joshua worked like mad to free Jeremy. They couldn't do it alone. Candy tried desperately to help but a man's strength was needed. Jason went up out of the water.
"BIG SWEDE! HELP!" Jason Bolt bellowed at the top of his lungs.
Big Swede was next to Jason in the river in a matter of seconds. They went under to where Jeremy was trapped. Swede helped the two oldest Bolts free their brother in about a minute.
As the men brought Jeremy up out of the river, Candy came up too. Swede laid Jeremy carefully on the grass. Jason checked for a heartbeat. He found none. Jason and Joshua immediately began the sternum compressions and blowing air into the lungs.
Candy prayed her heart out. She was terrified that her husband was dead. Corky found her some towels and a robe. It was Jeremy's that he kept in their sleep tent.
Candy dried off some with the towels and put on the robe keeping her eyes on Jeremy the whole time. Jason and Joshua worked on their brother until they were exhausted. Jason thought he detected a faint heartbeat.
Big Swede and Sam took over for the Bolts. Five minutes later, Jason put his ear to Jeremy's chest. He listened intently as he bit his lower lip.
Jason lifted his head and turned to look at Candy and Joshua. He shook his head no. The two brothers sobbed.
Candy screamed, "No! Jeremy! No, don't you leave me, Jeremy Shaddix Bolt!" She clawed the ground as she cried.
All at once, Jeremy gasped, coughed, and sputtered. Jason grabbed him and rolled him on his side. Jeremy began vomiting water.
When Jeremy stopped puking, Jason carried him cautiously to the medical tent and placed him on a cot.
Right after the accident occurred, Billy Sawdust headed to town to get Doctor Wright. They arrived at the camp shortly after Jeremy was taken to the medical area.
Doctor Wright examined Jeremy. She said that he had no water in his lungs and his heartbeat was strong. The doctor found a large knot on the back of his head. Doctor Wright advised them that Jeremy had a concussion. She told Candy and the two brothers that she would stay overnight to watch Jeremy due to the severity of the injury and his prior concussion.
"Doctor Wright, don't you think Jeremy would be more comfortable at Lottie's?" asked Jason.
"Yes, however I am concerned about him being jostled in the wagon." The doctor replied as she checked her patient's pulse.
"I could sit in the back of the buckboard holding his upper body against my chest. I promise you he would not move." Jason gazed at her earnestly.
"I know that, Jason." Allyn Wright smiled. "As you said, your brother would be more comfortable at Lottie's and your holding him next to you will aid in his recovery. Human touch is very important."
"Yes, touch is most important." Jason spoke softly as he smiled that dazzling smile.
Doctor Wright returned the smile. She blushed a bit as well.
Candy agreed with moving Jeremy to Lottie's. She and the doctor made a pallet of blankets for Jason, Jeremy, and herself to sit on in the bed of the buckboard, Everyone who had been in the river was wearing dry clothes when they got into the wagon going back to Seattle. Joshua had tied Candy's horse and buggy to the back of their vehicle. Joshua was driving the buckboard. Doctor Wright was in the back also to keep a close eye on Jeremy.
The middle brother tried to proceed carefully so as not to jostle his ailing brother. Jason was holding Jeremy's upper body against his chest as promised. Jeremy was covered with a blanket. He rested his head comfortably against his brother.
Candy was sitting right next to the two brothers holding her husband's hand. She was frightened because he was still unconscious.
"Try not to worry, Candy. Jeremy is strong. He will be fine. It will just take some time, that's all." Jason reassured her.
"Oh, Jason! That's not all!" Candy whimpered. "Jeremy and I had a terrible argument this morning before he left for work. I said some awful things to him. Things I have never said before. I'm so ashamed. And if he should die, oh dear God! He would die thinking that I don't love him or trust him and that I don't even care that he died!" She squalled.
Doctor Wright was seated on the other side of Jason. She leaned across without touching Jeremy to grasp the young wife's hand.
"All married couples have horrendous arguments at times. You mustn't berate yourself so badly. Your nerves are frazzled because of the accident." The doctor spoke.
At the sound of the word accident, Candy's sobs increased. When she managed to calm a bit, she said, "The two of you don't know the worst of what I said to Jeremy."
Candy told them what she said to her husband when they talked about him busting the log jam today and about supper tonight. Jason and Allyn gazed at her in astonishment. Jason's eyes narrowed at her for a few moments. The red head gulped when she heard Joshua cough vigorously and angrily.
"I am so sorry! I don't know why I said such mean things to him. I love Jeremy! I love him with all of my heart!" She reached to push Jeremy's bangs out of his eyes. Jason's hand got there before hers did.
Mrs. Bolt gasped a little and pulled back her hand. "I'm sorry, Jason, Joshua. I hope in time both of you can forgive me. I pray that Jeremy lives to forgive me."
The two brothers didn't respond. The group went ahead in silence for a while.
Jeremy became agitated. He cried out, "Help, Jason, help!"
Then he started to thrash about. Jason wrapped his arms a little tighter around him.
The oldest brother spoke soothingly, I'm here, Jeremy. I've got you. You're alright. I've got you brother. I love you."
Jeremy sighed as he rested his head on Jason's chest. Jason exhaled and looked at Allyn.
"It's common for a person with a concussion to call out at times. It's scary, but Jeremy is okay." The doctor told him.
Jason nodded at her as he readjusted the blanket around Jeremy. Doctor Wright patted Jason's hand.
The trip continued on quietly. They were almost in Seattle when the youngest Bolt became upset again. This time he called out for his wife.
"Candy, I'm drowning! Help! Please! Help! Can't breathe! Can't breathe! Candy! Can't breathe!" Jeremy began struggling for breath.
Doctor Wright grabbed her medical bag. She took out some cloths and a small bottle of Ether. She poured a small amount of the substance on a cloth.
"Hold his head steady, please, Jason." The doctor instructed.
Jason did as she asked. "Easy, Jeremy, easy." He whispered.
Jeremy stopped thrashing but he still fought for breath. Candy watched helplessly with tears streaming down her cheeks. In the driver's seat, Joshua was making the horses pick up their pace.
Doctor Wright placed the cloth over the youngest Bolt's nose and mouth. "Breathe deeply. That's right. That's good." She spoke quietly.
Between the reassuring voices and the calming touches of his brother and his doctor, Jeremy's breathing returned to normal as he inhaled the ether. He rested his head against Jason's chest.
Joshua drove the buckboard straight to Lottie's. Jeremy's brothers got him settled into a room there right away. The doctor was worried now because Jeremy was developing a fever.
Candy stood back feeling very awkward and unwanted since Jason and Joshua were angry at her about the awful things she said to their brother during the fight this morning. When she tried to apologize to them again both of them told her, "I'll think about it!' Candy supposed she deserved their treatment, but it certainly hurt. Mrs. Bolt dropped her head as she realized once again that was how she had made her husband feel not long before he had a dangerous task to complete on his job.
"Oh, my word!" Candy spoke aloud.
Her making Jeremy feel so bad was probably what led to the accident. If the unthinkable happened, it would be her fault! And after what she said to him! No wonder the older siblings were so mad at her.
Doctor Wright decided to place Jeremy in the steam tent to bring down his fever which was rising quickly. Ben donated several boxes of bullets from his mercantile for the sulfur. Most of the men in Lottie's at that time began removing the sulfur from the bullets.
Candy sat at a table alone in the corner of the saloon working on a box of bullets. Lottie had been running back and forth between Jeremy's room, the kitchen, and her room helping Doctor Wright with things she needed. Miss Hatfield had not even glanced her way, so Candy knew that she was aware of today's argument.
By late afternoon, Jeremy's fever was better. However, in the night, the fever spiked.
The youngest Mr. Bolt was very seriously sick. Candy, Jason, and Joshua sat with him during the night.
Their patient had been sleeping quietly for several hours when the relatives drifted off to sleep. They were soon awakened by Jeremy's screams.
"Candy! Help! I'm drowning! I'm drowning! Can't breathe! Can't breathe!" Jeremy gasped for breath.
Jason got ahold of his youngest brother by his shoulders. "Jeremy! You are alright! You are not drowning! Jeremy! Can you hear me?!"
Jeremy did not respond as he had earlier during the day. He continued to scream that he was drowning and to have difficulty breathing.
Joshua had run down the hall to get the doctor. Both of them came racing into the room.
"Jason, I'm going to give Jeremy an injection of morphine to calm him." Doctor Wright advised taking the bottle and the needle from her medical bag.
"Morphine is pretty strong for night terrors, isn't it?" He asked as he and Joshua struggled to hold Jeremy still.
"Yes, it is strong, Jason. However, Jeremy must have it. He can't continue to have these terror spells. If they go on much longer, Jason, his heart could be damaged." The doctor replied.
Jason looked at her over his shoulder. "Damage to his heart? Well, we can't have that. Give him the shot, Doctor."
When Allyn touched Jeremy's arm with the needle, he slung that arm with such force that the doctor fell backwards dropping the hypodermic needle.
"Oh, catch it! Don't let it break! It's the only one I have!" Doctor Wright shouted.
Candy jumped up from her chair extending her arms and her upper body as far as she could. She caught the needle safely in her hands.
Mrs. Bolt handed the hypodermic to the doctor. She returned to her chair putting her face in her hands.
"Thank you, Candy. You didn't get stuck did you?" Allyn asked.
"No, Doctor, I didn't touch the needle." Candy answered.
While Jason held down one of Jeremy's arms and Joshua held the other one down, Doctor Wright injected the morphine into the youngest Bolt's arm. In a few seconds, Jeremy relaxed. Two minutes later, he was asleep.
Joshua got the doctor a chair. He placed it between his and Jason's chairs. The two brothers and the physician sat down.
"Doctor Wright, I am concerned about you saying that these terror episodes could injury Jeremy's heart Explain that to us please." Joshua spoke.
"Of course, Joshua. When your brother is screaming that he is drowning, he is experiencing serious anxiety and fear. Too much of this could interfere with the normal functioning of his heart to the point of causing damage or even death." Allyn spoke somberly.
The three Bolts were shocked and frightened to hear the word death used in connection with Jeremy. Candy trembled. Joshua sulked. Jason groaned as if he had been kicked in the stomach.
"What can be done to keep Jeremy from having this fear, Doctor Wright?" Jason questioned.
"In this case, I believe it is best to keep him sedated for about three days so he can rest and hopefully the uninterrupted rest will rid his mind of the fear of drowning." She answered.
"Alright, Doctor. Let's pray that it works. We love Jeremy more than our own lives." Jason spoke.
The three days went by. The sedation helped Jeremy to sleep peacefully every night. After two days, his fever went away. The steam tent was taken down.
Two days after Doctor Wright ended the morphine injections, Jeremy woke up. Candy was the only one sitting with him just then. Jason and Joshua were downstairs replacing two broken windows for Lottie. A few customers drank too much the night before and threw chairs through the windows.
Jeremy moaned as he woke up. "My head! Oh, my head hurts!"
He rubbed the back of his head as he looked around the room. He swallowed hard when he saw his wife asleep in a chair next to the bed.
"C-C-Candy? C-C-Candy?" Jeremy whispered.
She woke up and looked at him. "Oh, Jeremy! Thank The Lord! You are awake! How do you feel, sweetheart?"
She moved from her chair to sit down on the edge of the bed. She held Jeremy's hand.
Jeremy gazed into her eyes. "I need to tell you something, C-C-Candy."
"Alright, Jeremy, what is it?" She smiled sweetly at him.
"I want a divorce." Jeremy whispered.
TBC
.